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Responding to an Active Shooter

Introduction

An active shooter is a person who appears to be actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area; in most cases active shooters use firearm(s) and there is no pattern or method to their selection of victims. These situations are dynamic and evolve rapidly, demanding immediate deployment of law enforcement resources to stop the shooting and mitigate harm to innocent victims. This document provides guidance to faculty, staff, and students who may be caught in an active shooter situation, and describes what to expect from responding police officers.

Guidance to faculty, staff, and students

In general, how you respond to an active shooter will be dictated by the specific circumstances of the encounter, bearing in mind there could be more than one shooter involved in the same situation. If you find yourself involved in an active shooter situation, try to remain calm and use these guidelines to help you plan a strategy for survival.

If an active shooter is outside your building, proceed to a room that can be locked, close and lock all the windows and doors, and turn off all the lights; if possible, get everyone down on the floor and ensure that no one is visible from outside the room. One person in the room should call 911, advise the dispatcher of what is taking place, and inform him/her of your location; remain in place until the police, or a campus administrator known to you, gives the “all clear.” Unfamiliar voices may be the shooter attempting to lure victims from their safe space; do not respond to any voice commands until you can verify with certainty that they are being issued by a police officer.

If an active shooter is in the same building you are, determine if the room you are in can be locked and if so, follow the same procedure described in the previous paragraph. If your room can’t be locked, determine if there is a nearby location that can be reached safely and secured, or if you can safely exit the building. If you decide to move from your current location, be sure to follow the instructions outlined below.

If an active shooter enters your office or classroom, try to remain calm. Dial 911, if possible, and alert police to the shooter’s location; if you can’t speak, leave the line open so the dispatcher can listen to what’s taking place. If there is no opportunity for escape or hiding, it might be possible to negotiate with the shooter; attempting to overpower the shooter with force should be considered a very last resort, after all other options have been exhausted. If the shooter leaves the area, proceed immediately to a safer place and do not touch anything that was in the vicinity of the shooter.
No matter what the circumstances, if you decide to flee during an active shooting situation, make sure you have an escape route and plan in mind. Do not attempt to carry anything while fleeing; move quickly, keep your hands visible, and follow the instructions of any police officers you may encounter. Do not attempt to remove injured people; instead, leave wounded victims where they are and notify authorities of their location as soon as possible. Do not try to drive off campus until advised it is safe to do so by police or campus administrators.

Tips to consider

There are a few critical aspects you as an individual should know when preparing yourself for such an incident. A few of them are as follows, but the brief 5 minute video below developed by the Department of Homeland Security and the City of Houston, TX highlights the basics.

Please review this list and view the video.

Call University Police when safe to do so – the quicker, the better.

Did you know dialing 911 from a campus-based phone connects with LUPD?

And if you dial 911 from your cell phone, you will reach NOPD rather than LUPD?

There is a critical difference in the response time of these 2 agencies. Time is the most vital aspect of this scenario and LUPD is already on campus. Consider programming 865-3434 into your cell phone and saving as a speed dial or as a favorite for quicker access. Both police forces will respond regardless, but LUPD is your on-site, campus police professionally trained to effectively respond to these scenarios.

Run, hide, fight – in that order. This is the current message supported by the FBI, DHS, and others. The video below highlights these.

If you hear gun fire and if you can get out of your location to run to safety, then GET OUT.

If you are unsure where the shots were in relation to you and think it is too close for you to run, then HIDE. If you hide, do so quietly, silence your cell phone, consider turning off lights, and consider barricading doors if possible.

If these two are not an option and the shooter is entering your area/room, FIGHT BACK. This is even more effective if you are with a group and can do so collectively.

If you ever become aware of a situation that may lead to violence, please notify the police or other campus authorities. Loyola has a threat assessment team who can and do evaluate potential problems and seek to find appropriate, fair and compassionate resolutions.

What to expect from responding police officers

Police officers responding to an active shooter are trained to proceed immediately to the area in which shots were last heard; their purpose is to stop the shooting as quickly as possible. The first responding officers will normally be in teams of four (4); they may be dressed in regular patrol uniforms, or they may be wearing external bulletproof vests, Kevlar helmets, and other tactical equipment. The officers may be armed with rifles, shotguns, or handguns, and might also be using pepper spray or tear gas to control the situation. Regardless of how they appear, remain calm, do as the officers tell you, and do not be afraid of them. Put down any bags or packages you may be carrying and keep your hands visible at all times; if you know where the shooter is, tell the officers. The first officers to arrive will not stop to aid injured people; rescue teams composed of other officers and emergency medical personnel will follow the first officers into secured areas to treat and remove injured persons. Keep in mind that even once you have escaped to a safer location, the entire area is still a crime scene; police will usually not let anyone leave until the situation is fully under control and all witnesses have been identified and questioned. Until you are released, remain at whatever assembly point authorities designate.